Tag Archives: Lifter of the Month

Lifter of the Month Program

The lifter of the month program was established by Al Myers in April 2012 and Chad Ullom was the first recipient.  Al wrote that “…every month I see great performances in the USAWA and I would like to have some way of honoring these performances by our membership.  The selection of this award will be based on my judgement alone, and will take in factors such as outstanding performances, great lifts, participation, records set, and meets won.  I sure don’t mind if someone makes recommendations to me either for someone they think should be the recipient of it for the month.”

The program has ebbed and flowed and was taken over by the Secretary/Treasurer and then the Secretary.

I have tried to maintain the original intent when I was nominating athletes to the USAWA secretary and selecting athletes as acting USAWA secretary.  Without fail, an athlete finds a way to stand apart.  Sometimes it is a Junior, sometimes a Master, sometimes pushing the bounds of a lift, sometimes by participating in a record session after a twelve-lift meet.  Sometimes participation is traveling to compete live, sometimes participation is competing in a full series of meets.

  • Outstanding Performances – Meet, series, IAWA events, etc.
  • Great Lifts – During competition or Record Session
  • Participation – Some athletes are competing 3 times in a month, locally and traveling
  • Records Set – Age/Weight Class, ALL Ages, and highest ever
  • Meets Won – With priority given to USAWA and IAWA championships

Leadership, Sportsmanship, Courage, Newcomer status is not directly considered, but I have found that recognized athletes often shine not only as athletes, but also as people.

Since 2012, 67 athletes have been honored as Lifter of the Month

13 women – Repeat winners included

  1. RJ Jackson (6)
  2. Beth Skwarecki (4)

54 men – Top 11 as follows, 7 are Hall of Famers

  1. Chad Ullom (7) – HOF
  2. Denny Habecker (6) – HOF
  3. Al Myers (5) – HOF
  4. Eric Todd (5) – HOF
  5. Dan Wagman (4)
  6. Randy Smith (4) – HOF
  7. James Fuller (3)
  8. Barry Bryan (3)
  9. Art Montini (3) – HOF
  10. Dave Glasgow (3)
  11. Frank Ciavattone (3) – HOF

See all of the past Lifters of the Month

Lifter of the Month, December 2025, Nils Larson

December was a busy month with the Steve Schmidt Backbreaker, IAWA OTSM World Postal, USAWA Team Championship and the New Year’s Eve Record Breaker and Q4 Postal results still pending. Nils Larson earned Lifter of the Month for December with his top finish in the Steve Schmidt Backbreaker including an 1800-pound Harness Lift and 6544-pound raw total.

The Harness Lift broke Bill Clark’s record set nearly a quarter century ago in 2001. Nils has records going back to the 2002 U.S. Marine Open and National Championship in Ambridge. After a hiatus, he has been actively competing since 2023 and should be entering the Century Club with the next update.

The August 16, 2025 Walpole Record Day introduced a Bench Press, Larson (Fulton HT) as an exhibition lift. (6) different lifters were able to post efforts between 125 and 235 pounds.

This is the second time Nils has been recognized as Lifter of the Month, previously being bestowed the honor in September 2023. On a final historic note, Nils is member of the Neck Lift 600-pound Club with his 2004 effort.

Congratulations Nils!

Do you know a USAWA member who should be recognized as a future Lifter of the Month? Send nominations to the acting Secretary at usawasec@gmail.com

LIFTER OF THE MONTH, NOVEMBER 2025, LISA GORE

November featured the IAWA Gold Cup, High Country Vigour Cup and Memorial Record Day.  Lisa Gore earned Lifter of the Month for November thanks to her amazing 700-pound Back Lift.

Despite only competing since April of 2024 and never leaving the friendly confines on Columbia, MO, Lisa has crept up the records leaderboard and at 293 records is second behind RJ Jackson on the women’s leaderboard. 

Besides setting records, Lisa has won competitions outright including the 2025 Bench Press Heptathlon, Tony Lupo Lightweight Decathlon, Q2 Postal and Goerner Deadlift Dozen Plus One.

Congratulations Lisa!

Do you know a USAWA member who should be recognized as a future Lifter of the Month? Send nominations to the acting Secretary at sanjiv_gupta@hotmail.com

LIFTER OF THE MONTH, OCTOBER 2025, DENNY HABECKER

October featured the IAWA World Championship, Q3 Postal Results and the Herman Goerner Deadlift Dozen.  Denny Habecker earned lifter of the month with his massive 105kg Straddle Deadlift in the IAWA World Championship.  Combined with impressive lifts across the board, Denny was the top USA finisher and 15th overall.

Denny is a 1997 Hall of Fame inductee and this is his 6th time being recognized as lifter of the month.  He had been the long running president of the USAWA and is on the IAWA Technical Committee and serves as USA Vice President to the IAWA.  He stands alone with over 600 records set in the 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, and 80 age groups including 17 ALL age class records and 23 NAT records.  He is a regular on the United States and International circuit and a gentleman on and off the platform.

He has been promoting the Postal league, Memorial Record Day and President’s Cup.  In 2026 he will be promoting the IAWA World Championship.

Congratulations Denny!

Do you know a USAWA member who should be recognized as a future Lifter of the Month? Send nominations to the acting Secretary at sanjiv_gupta@hotmail.com

LIFTER OF THE MONTH, SEPTEMBER 2025, CHAD ULLOM

September was an exciting month with the Andy Goddard Memorial World Postal, Old Time Strongman Championship, Colorado OTSM Classic, One Ton Challenge and the Two-Fisted Challenge.  Chad Ullom earned lifter of the month by winning the Old Time Strongman Championship primarily on the strength of his massive 725-pound Kennedy Lift (a masters and ALL age class record).  Only (5) USAWA athletes have broken 700 pounds on this lift.

Chad is a 2016 Hall of Fame inductee and this is his 7th time being recognized as lifter of the month.  He has been the long running Vice President of the USAWA and Vice President of the IAWA.  He currently holds 347 individual records and 72 team lift records.

Congratulations Chad!

Do you know a USAWA member who should be recognized as a future Lifter of the Month? Send nominations to the acting Secretary at sanjiv_gupta@hotmail.com

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